Squirrel Cove – Anchorage, History, Wildlife & Community Guide

Squirrel Cove on Cortes Island is a sheltered, two‑basin anchorage rich in Klahoose First Nation history, wildlife, shellfish resources, art, hiking access, and practical services for mariners. Calm Bay contains several historic wreck remnants, and the inner cove leads to a shallow lake accessible only by kayak at high tide.

Anchorage Description

Outer Cove (Calm Bay)

  • Wide, excellent holding
  • Easy maneuvering for sailboats and trawlers
  • Contains several historic wreck remnants

Inner Cove

  • Accessed through a narrow, shallow channel
  • Very protected
  • Ideal for dinghies and kayaks
  • Leads to a small lake (not navigable by boats)

Wrecks & Industrial Remnants

Calm Bay contains:

  • A derelict trawler with a crushed starboard side
  • Remains of an old wooden dock
  • Creosote pilings
  • A rusting steam‑donkey winch from early logging operations

These features make Squirrel Cove unusually rich for maritime and industrial historians.

Can You Enter the Lake at High Tide?

The lake behind the inner cove is shallow and enclosed.
Boats cannot enter it, even at high tide.

Kayaks can slip through the narrow channel at higher water.

What Different Visitors Find Interesting

Historian

  • Klahoose seasonal village history
  • Shellfish gardens and pre‑contact resource management
  • Logging remnants and wrecks
  • Early settler activity from 1866 onward

Wildlife Enthusiast

  • Bald eagles, seals, deer
  • Forest and shoreline ecosystems
  • Quiet inner‑cove paddling habitat

Shellfish Cultivator

  • Active shellfish farm
  • Historically important Indigenous harvesting site
  • Rich tidal flats

Sailor

  • Reliable anchorage
  • Fuel dock available
  • Central location for exploring Cortes Island

Native Businessman

  • Klahoose stewardship and cultural tourism
  • Opportunities in art, resource management, and community services

Hiker

  • Trails maintained by Friends of Cortes Island
  • Access to Carrington Bay Regional Park and Siskin Forest

Art Lover

  • Klahoose welcome pole by Ernest Puglas
  • Indigenous carving traditions and cultural installations
The Craft Shop at squirrel cove sells high end goods which draw crowds.

Kayaker

  • Ideal inner‑cove paddling
  • Narrow channel access at high tide
  • Wildlife viewing opportunities

Services in Squirrel Cove

Food

  • Squirrel Cove General Store offers groceries and seasonal food
  • Summer food trucks appear intermittently

Hardware

  • General store carries basic hardware supplies
  • No dedicated hardware store

Fuel

  • Yes, Squirrel Cove has a fuel dock for boats

Shellfish Harvesting

  • Historically abundant
  • Modern harvesting must follow BC shellfish safety closures
  • Active shellfish farm present

Petroglyphs

  • No confirmed petroglyphs in Squirrel Cove
  • Indigenous art installations present

Portaging to Von Donop

  • Not commonly done
  • Travel is normally by boat around the island

New Market

  • The Squirrel Cove General Store is the primary market
  • No confirmed newly opened market

As anyone passing through Squirrel Cove in recent months knows, there has been a great clearing in the upper part of the new Klahoose property. QXMC, the business arm of the Klahoose First Nation, hopes to open a store and gas bar there by March 2025.

Ron Buchhorn, Chair of the Board of QXMC, explained, ”We retained a project manager back in November of last year and we have signed a letter of intent with Chevron for the gas station component of the store and gas bar. We have a commitment from Co-op that they will assist us with stocking the store and helping us basically manage to their standards.  Co-op will supply us with all the products in the store through their wholesale distributor TGF. 

QXMC SQUIRREL COVE

Visitor Interest Table

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